incapable of extricating herself from the sad fate of the wavering petit bourgeois.The release of New Women was marred by a backlash from the press who objected to their profession's unflattering portrayal in the film. When the film opened in Shanghai the commercial press took the film's narrative to task for depicting the news media as slanderous. The Journalists’ Union loudly protested the film's characterization of their trade and the spectre of negative publicity pressured Lianhua studio into making an open apology. The portrayal of the new woman by Ruan Linyu was also heavily criticized for her way of life and using “suicide as the ultimate way of protesting against discrimination and gossip.” In an attempt to clear away accusations that the movie was “condoning” the suicide of New Women, the producers made a public relations show of their virtue by agreeing to screen the film at a fundraiser for a women's educational centre on International Women's Day, March 8. The target of much of their ire became the suicide of the film's star, Ruan Lingyu exactly one month after the movie premiered. The reception and publicity the film received was directly tied to Ruan's suicide by overdosing on barbiturates. Her death was purportedly due to the gossip and exposure surrounding her personal life. In her final note, she stated, "Gossip is a fearful thing", attributing her suicide to the same kind of media harassment her character Wei Ming experienced. The idea of the protagonist's "crisis in subjectivity" was brought to life by Ruan's suicide. It provoked much debate in the Shanghai news media on the controversy over the representation and status of women in popular culture and shed a light on the increasing feminist problems of modernity. Much discussion surrounded the similarities between Ai Xia, Ruan, and her character Wei Ming, all sources of scrutiny in 'the woman question' of urban China in the 1930s. Some criticised the representation of new woman in the film as not focusing on family duties and pressured the idea of an independent new woman, conveying the traditional Chinese ideals which needed reformation. Historical background In early 20th century China, the traditional social morals dictated that women must be modest and reserved in their homes. But after the re-founding of the Republic of China in 1911, the grip on traditionalism started to weaken. Women were given more access to education, employment opportunities, and began